Can-opener



(No Model.)

B. S. LEFLER.

CAN OPENER.

Patented Jan. 25, 1898.

1 y ma Wifgcsses 70W a MI 1 a m I a E I 736W SAWWS UNITED STATES Parent @rrrcni EDMUND S. LEFLER, OF ANNA, ILLINOIS.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 597,724, dated January 25, 1898. Application filed October 17, 1896. Serial No. 609,244. (No model.)

T 0 nsZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND S. LEFLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anna, in the county of Union and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of whicl the following is a specification.

The invention relates-to improvements in can during the cutting operation to prevent the loss of any of its contents.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can-opener constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view, the lever being swung upward. Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the lever, the ring or rim being removed. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating the construction of the adjustable standard. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the rim or ring, showing the arrangement of the projections for engaging a can.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a base, constructed of suitable material and provided with a series of concentric circular recesses 2, forming seats for and conforming to the configuration of cans to prevent the latter from slipping during the operation of opening them. The base is provided with perforations for the reception of suitable fastening devices for securing it to a counter or other suitable support, and rising from its rear portion is a vertical standard 3, which is composed of inner and outer sections at and 5, capable of vertical movement on each other to raise and lower a clamping frame or lever 6, that carries the cutting mechanism. The inner section 4 of the standard is rigid with the base and is tapcrin g or substantially wedge-shaped in crossscction, and an outer section 5, which is hollow, is provided with dovetail openings conforming to the configuration of the inner section, whereby the outer section is capable of vertical movement, but is locked against any rotary ortwisting movement. The rear face of the inner section is' provided with a series of horizontal recesses 7, which are adapted to be engaged by a catch 8, mounted on the outer section to secure the standard at the desired adjustment. The catch consists of a substantially U-shaped spring having its lower portion or bend 9 bent at right angles and arranged substantially horizontally in a slot 10 of the outer section 5 in position for engaging the recesses 7. 'A handle 11 is secured to the sides of the spring by means of a plate or clip fastened to the inner end of the handle and provided with eyes receiving the sides of the spring.

The standard and the base form an adjustable supporting-frame for a can, and the lever 6, which engages the top of the can, is adapted to clamp the latter firmly on such supporting-frame. The lever, which is pivoted in a bifurcation of the top of the standard, is provided with a central circular portion having a circular recess 12 at its lower face, receiving a rotary head 13, which carries a blade 14 for cutting the top of a can. The head 13is provided with a vertical spindle 15, passing through a central opening of the enlarged portion of the lever and having a handle 16 secured to it, and the lever is provided with a conical boss 17. which raises the crank-handle 16 sufficiently above the handle portion of the lever to enable the crank-handle to be rotated without coming in contact with the hand that grasps the lever.

The blade, which is adapted to be replaced by a new one when worn or broken, is detachably secured in a slot of the head by screws or other suitable fastening devices. The lever, which extends horizontally across the top of the can, is adapted to be pressed against the same to clamp the can sufficiently to hold it firmly on its seat in the base, and the ring or rim'18 is secured to the lower faceof the enlarged portion of the lever and extends inward from the rotary head to prevent the latter from coming in contact with a can and frictionally engaging the same and being thereby retarded in its rotation. The ring or rim is provided at opposite sides with depending points or projections 19, adapted to penetrate the top of a can near the side edges thereof, whereby the lever is capable of securely clam ping the same. The lever-extends sufficiently beyond the can to afford a con venient handle or grip, and the hand which holds the clampingdever is not in the way of the hand which operates the rotary knife.

The top of the can is rapidly cut to the desired extent by rotating the rotary head, and in order to enable the operator to'determine the position of the blade the rotary head is provided at its periphery with a notch 20,

which is adapted to be engaged by a springw catch 21, and the latter is secured to the top of the lever and is provided with an arm eX-' tending through an opening in the top thereof in position to engage the notch. The springcatch 21 is constructed of a single piece of resilient material provided with a coil, which is adapted to throw the arm inward into engagement with the notch of the rotary head, and the notch is curved so that it may readily disengage itself from the spring-catch when the hand is subjected to a slight pressure in rotating it. The lever is adapted to be swung upward, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, and it is maintained inits raised position byafiat spring 22, secured to the rear face of the standard and having its upper end free and engaging the rear end of the lever.

It will be seen that the can-opener is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, that itenables the can to be readily opened, and that it is capable of ready adjustment to suit the size of the can to be operated on. The handle of the spring-catch of the adjustable standard is in convenient position to be readily grasped by an operator with one hand while he takes hold of the lever with the other, and the outer section of the adjustable standard may be readilyraised and lowered to bring the lever at the desired elevation to operate properly on a can.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

hat I claim is- 1. In a can-opener, the combination of a base, a standard, a lever fulcrumed on the standard and provided at its lower face with a bearing-recess, a rotary head arranged in the bearing-recess and provided with a depending blade, a rim secured to the lever, extending inward over the rotary head to prevent the same from comingin contact with a can and provided with projections for engaging the latter, and means for rotating the head, substantially as described.

2, In a can-opener, the combination of a base, a standard, a lever fulcrumed on a standard and provided with a bearing-recess, a rotary head journaled in the bearing and provided with a peripheral notch, a resilient catch mounted on the lever and arranged to engage the catch, and a blade carried by the rotary head, substantially as described.-

3. In a can-opener, the combination of a base, a standard, a lever pivoted to the standard and adapted to be swung upward from a horizontal position to substantially a vertical one, a spring mounted on the standard and engaging the pivoted end of the lever to hold the latter in its raised position, and a rotary head journaled in the lever and provided with a blade, substantially as described.

4. In a can-opener, the combination of a base,van adjustable standard comprising an inner section, substantially wedge-shaped in cross-section, a hollow outer section having a dovetail opening conforming to the configuration of the inner section, means for securing the outer section at the desired elevation, and a lever fulcrumed on the standard and provided with cutting mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a can-opener, the combination of a base, a standard comprising an inner and outer section, the outer section being adapted to slide on the inner one, and the inner section being provided with a series of recesses, a substantially U-shaped spring secured to the outer section and having a horizontal portion extendin g through an opening of the outer section and adapted to engage the said recess of the inner section, a handle having a clip secured to the sides of the said spring, and a lever fulcrumed on the standard and provided with cutting mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDMUND S. LEFLER.

WVitnesses: WM. H. PEAK, JAMES A. PEAK. 

